Temperature control valve for heat exchangers



June 6, 1950 R. w. JENSEN 2,510,473

TEMPERATURE CONTROL VALVE FOR HEAT EXCHANGERS Original Filed April 16, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 RAYMOND W. JENSEN June 6, 1950 R. w. JENSEN 2,510,473

TEMPERATURE CONTROL VALVE FOR HEAT EXCHANGERS Original Filed April 16, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 RAYMOND W. JENSEN Patented June 6. 1956 TEMPERATURE CONTROL VALVE FOR HEAT EXCHANGERS Raymond W. Jensen, Los Angeles, Calii'., assignor to The Garrett Corporation, Los Angeles, Calii'., a corporation of California Original application April 16, 1945, Serial No.

588,591. Divided and this application November 15, 1946, Serial No. 709,949

11 Claims.

This invention relates to heat exchangers and is particularly useful in connection with the temperature conditioning of lubricating oil for internal combustion engines for aircraft, which are submitted to widely varying conditions of temperature and temperature change. object of the invention is to provide an improved temperature control mechanism for heat exchangers, and a particular object of the invention is to provide an improved temperature control mechanism for aircraft oil coolers. This applica-, tion is a division of applicant's copending application for a Cooler and valve therefor, Serial No. 588,591, filed April 16, 1945.

" A primary function of an oil cooler is to remove excess heat from the oil as it comes in a heated condition from the engine and to return the oil to the engine in a proper condition of fluidity and viscosity. An aircraft cooler must be capable of "faithfully carrying out this function when the temperature of the atmosphere is high (placing a high cooling load on the cooler) and when the temperature of the atmosphere is extremely low '(giving rise to the problem of congealment of the connection with suitable means for bypassing a portion or all of the oil around the cooler core when oilviscosity becomes too great, in order to relieve the core of the excessive pressures which are developed as a result of excessive viscosity, and at the same time to reduce the cooling effect and permit the temperature of the oil to rise.

The general I sity for such shortened bypassing may also arise from sudden surges at the cooler inlet. In conneetion with such bypassing, it is desirable to isolate the core from the high inlet pressure.

The present invention contemplates a control mechanism having all of these functions and yet embodied in arr-extremely simple and compact unit. The mechanism is embodied in a control chamber which serves as both an outlet chamber and a ,direct bypass chamber, a warm up bypass But even further measures are usually considered highly desirable if not essential to the proper control of oil temperature under widely varying conditions. It is possible for the temperature to drop so rapidly or to reach such a low stage, that the thickening of the oil is not arrested even where all of the oil is bypassed through a warm up jacket, and it may become necessary to bypass at least some of, the oil directly from the cooler inlet through the cooler outlet or externally of the cooler so as to relieve the warm up jacket as well as the cooler core. The necescs jacket, a thermostatic valve for controlling the flow through a warm up bypass chamber and thus controlling the flow through the warm up jacket, and an inlet chamber together with surge valve mechanism adapted, under excessive pressures and pressure surges to isolate such inlet chamber from its normal connection with the core inlet and to open up a normally closed connection to the direct bypass chamber.

Control mechanisms have previously been developed in which a valve, operated by a thermostat disposed adjacent the cooler outlet in the path of returned oil, was employed to control the flowof oil through parallel outlets from the cooler core and warm up jacket respectively of an oil cooler. In an arrangement of this kind the thermostat is washed by separate streams of oil, one coming from the core outletand the other coming from the warm up jacket outlet, and these separate streams impinge against difierent areas of the thermostat, and, furthermore, the effective action on the thermostat in the two areas is not the same. e

An important object of. the present invention is to provide a cooler control mechanism embodying a thermo-responsive warm up bypass control valve having a thermostat which is arranged for improved accuracy and sensitivity of response to temperature changes. More specifically, the invention aims to provide an arrangement wherein the streams of oil from the warm up bypass and core converge and mix before impinging upon the thermostat, and wherein the thermostat is so arranged with reference to the mixed oil stream that the impingement will have a. maximum effect.

Another object is to provide an arrangement wherein. the available space within the outlet chamber is devoted entirely to the thermostat so as to permit maximum freedom of access and concentration of the discharging oil stream to and around the thermostat. v

A further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement wherein the bypassing of the bined thermo-responsive and pressure responsive valve unit, at the inlet or the cooler rather than at the outlet as has been customary in the use of such valves in the past. Such an arrangement has the advantage of making the valve responsive to inlet pressure instead of the pressure at the warm up jacket outlet, which is definitely lower than inlet pressure because of the pressure drop through the warm up jacket, and this is especially true under the conditions of high viscosity which require the opening or the bypass to relieve the core.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cooler control mechanism in which the number of valve devices is reduced to a minimum without sacrificing the functions of previous control mechanism containing a larger number of valve devices.

The foregoing objects are attained by the invention in an arrangement wherein the thermostat occupies the outlet chamber and the valve which is controlled by the thermostat occupies a separate chamber in the control housing, and operates at the inlet rather than at the outlet of the cooler as in prior devices. This makes it possible to concentrate the entire discharge fiow upon the thermostat. It also makes it possible to arrange the thermostat and valve unit in a position substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cooler (thus permitting the height of the control housing to be reduced to a minimum) and at the same time to employ a, valve unit of ample length. To illustrate these latter points, it may be noted that with the thermostat arranged in the outlet chamber and the valve element arranged in an intermediate chamber (comprising the separate connection to the warm up jacket), the valve unit may occupy roughly two-thirds o! the length of the control housing, since the only additional chamber required is the inlet chamber. At the same time, it is possible to arrange all three chambers in line so as to keep the width of the control housing at a minimum. Furthermore, with the valve unit lying on its side so to speak, the direct bypass chamber from the inlet to the outlet may be and is arranged above the intermediate valve chamber without requiring any height in the control housing in addition to that needed for the surge valve unit. Also, the thermostatic valve unit is arranged on a slight incline with the valve end disposed quite close to the cooler core so as to provide ample space for the direct bypass chamber which is above it, and with the thermostat end at a greater height (which is possible, since the direct bypass chamber terminates short of the thermostat), thereby providing a space below the thermostat to accommodate the movement of a core check valve and leaving suflicient space below the projecting end of the thermostat to accommodate the attachment of the control housing to the body of the cooler. The foregoing features combine to provide a simple, compact and offlcient control mechanism.

A reduction in the number of valve elements required for adequate core protection is effected by combining the warm up and core outlet streams within the cooler proper, having a common outlet for the jacket and core, and therefore employing only a single check valve for protecting both core and jacket from back surges.

'A further object of the invention is to provide an improved thermostatic valve unit adapted to form a. part of a control mechanism such as that aci -its outlined above. A specific object is to provide an improved thermo-responsive device utilizing the expansion of a wax such as paramn for actuating the valve thermo-responsively. Another obiect is to provide such a theme-responsive device in which the transfer of heat to the expensive liquid is attained at a maximum speed. Another object is to provide such athermostatic valve unit in which the valve element is responsive not only to temperature change, but also to excessive pressures. A further object is to provide such a valve mechanism which may be readily removed as a unit from the control housing. Another object is to provide such a valve unit which incorporates a simple, yet effective, means for adjusting the thermostatic response.

Further objects and advantages or the invention will be brought out in the following part oi. the specification.

Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through a control mechanism embodying the invention, combined with a schematic showing of the flow circuit or the body of a cooler in which the invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the control mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken longitudinal through the thermostat valve unit; and

Fig. 4 is an end view of the thermostatic valve unit.

In the drawings 1 have indicated the control mechanism generally by the reference numeral 6 and the cooler body by the reference numeral 1. The cooler body 1 may be of a construction generally conforming to that shown in the application of Walter R. Ramsaur, Serial No. 383,731, filed March 17, 1941, for-High capacity oil cooler, now abandoned, wherein a warm up jacket entirely surrounds the cooler core, or that shown in the application of Walter R. Ramsaur, Serial No. 568,018, filed December 13, 1944, for Oil cooler, now Patent No. 2,474,689, dated June 28, 1949, wherein the warm up bypass is abbreviated to covr a relatively small portion of the cooler shell. In either case, however, instead-of employing a common inlet to the core and warm up bypass, with separate outlets therefrom, the cooler body I in the present invention will incorporate separate inlets 8 and 9 respectively to the core and warm up passages, and a common outlet It. The cooler core may be provided with the conventional cylindrical shell H and a plurality of bundles of tubes I! through which a coolant, such as air, may be passed through the core for cooling the oil passing through the interspaces l3 between the tubes l2. The warm up bypass is indicated at I! and, as indicated, provides a relatively short and unconstricted bypass path 01' flow from the bypass inlet 9 to the common outlet III. As previously stated, the warm up jacket or mud Il may be in the form of either a Jacket completely encircling the core or may be in the form of a relatively short and direct bypass extending longitudinally along the exterior of the core shell from the mutt inlet 9 to the common outlet II, with a baiiie wall I5 therein to spread the flow to a greater extent longitudinally of the shell than would otherwise occur.

The control mechanism or my invention embodies the housing li having a top wall H, a bottom wall l8 fitted against and secured to a fitting IQ of the cooler body 1, end walls 2. and

2|, an internal wall 22 spaced below the top wall l1, an internal wall-23 spaced below the wall 22,

v side walls 24 and 24', and generally vertical partition walls 25, 26, and 21 spaced from each other longitudinally of .the housing I8, each extending between thte side walls 24 and 24' and joined thereto, the wall 25 extending between the walls 22 and 23 and joining the same, and the walls 28 and 21 extending between the walls 22 and I8 and joining the same, all cooperating to define an inlet chamber A, an'inlet junction chamber B, a valve chamber C, and a combined direct bypass and outlet chamberD including a direct bypass chamber E and an outlet chamber F.

The inlet chamber A is disposed between the direct bypass chamber E and the inlet junction chamber B, is communicable with the direct bypass chamber E through -a surge relief port 28 in the wall 22, and is normally in communication with the inlet junction chamber B through a port 29 in the wall 23. Oil enters the inlet chamber A through a main inlet port 30 in the side wall 24 or an alternative inlet port in the other side wall 24', which is closed by a cover plate 8| when the inlet port 30 is being used. The alternative inlet ports are provided in order that the connection to the cooler from th engine and other parts of the lubrication circuit may be made from whichever side is best fitted for the particular installation.

From the inlet chamber A the oilstream normally passes into the junction chamber B and from there may pass through a port 32' in the bottom wall I8 and through the cooler inlet 8 registering therewith, into the cooler core; or may, under some conditions of operation, pass through a bypass control port 33 in the wall 28, into the bypass chamber C from which it may pass through a port 34 in the bottom wall I8 and through the warm up bypass inlet 9 which registers with the port 34, into the warm up bypass I4, or may divide in the junction chamber B and flow partially into the core inlet 8 and partially into the warm up bypass I4. Flow into the core is indicated by arrows 35, and the flow into and through the warm up bypass I4 is indicated by the arrows 36. After passing through the warm up bypass and core respectively, the oil streams join and pass out through the common outlet I0 and through an outlet port 31 in the bottom wall I 8 of the control housing, registering with the out let I0, into the outlet chamber F.

In the outlet chamber F, the oil washes the thermostat 38 of the valve unit 39 and then passes out through the main outlet 40 in the wall 24 (or its counterpart in the opposite wall 24',

which is normally closed by a cover plate 4|).

The thermostat 38 extends across substantially the full width of the outlet chamber F and is substantially centered in the direct line of flow from the port 31 to the main outlet port 40, whereby the discharging oil stream, throughout practically its entire breadth, is concentrated against the thermostat 38. Thus maximum effective response of the thermostat to changes in temperature in the discharging oil is obtained. Furthermore, the discharg flow will impinge against the same area of the thermostat 38 and have the same efiectiveness of action thereon in relation to the amount of temperature change therein, whether it constitutes the discharge from the core or from the warm up bypass, or the combined discharge from both, mixed in the commonoutlet III of the cooler body before entering the; outlet chamber F of the control unit. The combined outlet flow from the core and the warm up 1" to the main outlet 48 is indicated by the arin an opening 88 in the end wall 2I, and a sealing flange 46 which is closely fitted within an opening 41 in the wall 21 so as to permit the valve unit to extend from the outlet chamber F into the valve chamber 0 and yet to seal the two cham-' bers against intercommunication. When the temperature is in normal operating range, the

valve 43 will close the port 33 so as to direct the entire inlet flow through the core inlet 8 andthrough the core passages I3. At lower tempera tures, the thermostat 38 will contract and withdraw the valv element 43 from th port 33, permitting flow through the bypass I4.-

- Under conditions where the oil begins to congeal 0n the walls of the tubes I2, the oil which continues to flow through the passages I3 will tend to retain its heat so as to have a higher temperature at the outlet than it would otherwise have, and this temperature may be such as to cause the valve 43 to clos when it should be openedjo permit a warm up flow 01' oil through the bypass jacket I4. Under such conditions. when the increase in pressure drop through the core, caused by the constriction of the passages I3 by the congealed layers of oil, becomes sufflciently excessive, the valve element 43 may yield with reference to the thermostat 38 in order to permit the bypass flow. For this purpose, the valve element 43 has a tubular hub member 48 which is slidably mounted on the stem 49 through which the thermo-responsive movement is trans-1 mitted to th valve element 43. Under ordinary conditions, the valve element 43 is maintained in fixed relation to the stem 49 by a spring 50 encircling the stem 49 and under compression between the valve element 43 and a washer 5 I, which abuts a shoulder 52 on the stem 49. Under excessive pressure mentioned above, the spring 58 will yield and permit the valve element 43 to slide on the stem 49.

Under extreme conditions of excess pressure or sudden surges in the inlet, the oil may bypass directly from the inlet chamber A to the outlet chamber F through the direct bypass chamber E. Such bypassing action is controlled by a surge valve unit indicated generally at 53 and comprising a surge relief valve element 54 normally closing the surge relief port 28. The valve element 54 has a skirt portion 55 slidably mounted in the bearing boss 56 in the top wall ll of the control housing, and is normally maintained yieldingly in closed position by a coil spring 51, engaged under compression between the valve element 54 and an abutment spider 58 which is apertured so that the valve element 54 is subject to atmospheric pressure on its outer side. Carried by the valve element 54 is a stem 59 which in turn carries an inlet protection valve element cooperating with the port 29 to isolate the inlet junction chamber B from theinlet chamber A when surges or other excessive pressure conditions, causing opening of the relief valve 54, occur. The above described specific constructions of the surge valve 53 do not in themselves form any part of the present invention which does, however, embrace. the arrangement of the surge valve unit with the remaining elements of the control mechbypass and the outlet flow through the chamber 1 anism. Also the present invention provides a washer and a washer 82.

specific improvement in theprotection valve element III, which is of laminated construction, including a thin metal disc, or discs, '6 I, sandwiched the port 29.

The outlet Ill is sealed ofi from the back surges in the main outlet 46 by a check valve 65'which is hinged at 66 to the valve seat insert 61 in the bottom wall l8 of the control housing, against which insert the valve element 65 is adapted to seat. The invention provides an arrangement in which the single check valve protects both the 'core and the warm up bypass against back surges,

whereas previously it has been necessary to employ two check valves for this purpose.

The invention provides an improved thermoresponsive valve unit in which the thermostat 38 comprises a casing member 68 (Fig. 3) having annular heat transfer fins 69 and a cylindrical bore Ill, one end of the casing 68 being joined to the flange 46 by a narrow waist member H and the other end of the casing being closed by a cap 12 threaded thereinto at 13. The waist member H has a bore 14 which receives a piston 15 in the form of a head on the-stem 49, separated from the stern by the shoulder 52. -A pair of packing rings 16, in annular grooves TI in the piston 15, seal the pistonin the bore 14. Within the chamber defined by the bore I0, thewaist member II, the piston 15, and the cap 12, is sealed a thermoexpansive material such as paraffin which is relatively light in weight. For obtaining rapid distribution' of heat from the casing 68 into the paraffin body I provide a series of thin discs ll having rims 19 which maintain uniform spacing only a portion of the discs are shown in the drawing. These discs I l are apertured at 80 to maintain communication between the spaces defined between the discs II, permitting the body of liquid in said spaces to expand and contract, and to thereby move the piston 15 outwardly and permit it to return under the yielding pressure of a return spring 8i, which is engaged between the The washer 82 in turn is abutted against a snap ring 83 mounted between and bonded to a pair of discs 62 and 63- 8 tightened, the inner ends-oi the screw being threaded into the cap 12.

Since the valve-portion of thevalve unit is disposed in an inlet chamber while the thermostat portion thereof is disposed in an outlet chamber, the entire valve unit may occupy roughly twothirds of the length of the control housing. This makes it possible to embody ample area in the thermostat, and the valve portion to be amply large to accommodate the spring mechanism. It brings the valve element. up to the inlet junction chamber, where it may control the flow at the inlet rather than at the outlet. The valve element 43 is, in its excess pressure responsive action, responsive directly to inlet pressure rather than the lower pressure existing at the outlet of the bypass. The excess pressure response is therefore more efiective and gives greater relief to the core from excess pressures than is possible when the valve is located at the outlet. The extension of the valve unit through both the outlet and bypass chambers is made possible by arranging the valve in a position roughly horizontal to the major axis of the cooler body I, and this in turn makes it possible to keep the height of the top wall l6 above the bottom wall [8 of the control housing at a minimum. The arrangement of the valve unit at a slight acute angle relative to the bottom wall makes it possible to bring the main outlet 46, which likewise is substantially thus centered. The fins 69 are so arranged that the flow from the outlet in to the main outlet 46 is substantially parallel to the planes of the fins and wipes them with maximum heat transfer effect.

in an annular groove in a skirt 84 projecting from .element 43 relative to the thermostat. The cap I2 is sealed by a packing ring 89 mounted in an annular groove 90 in the cap and engaging a conical counterbore 9| in the head 44. For locking the cap 12 in any desired position of adjustment I provide -a locking screw 92 having a conical shoulder portion 93 engageable between the walls of a slot 94 in the cap, and adapted to spread the adjacent portions of the cap into locking engagement with the head 44 when the screw 32 is Briefly reviewing the operation of the cooler,

under normal temperature conditions, oil will flow into the inlet chamber A through the main inlet 30, then through the port 29 into the junction chamber B, thence through the port 32 into the core inlet 8, thence through the core passages l3 to the common outlet l0, then through the port 31 and past the check valve 65 into the outlet chamber F, then past the thermostat 38 to the main outlet -4II. In response to the temperature of the outfiowing oil, the thermostat 33 will maintain the valve 43 in a position closing the port 33 and directingthe flow through the core. This action of the thermostat results from expansion of the paraflin confined between the discs 1|, such expansion being transmitted to thepiston 15, thence through the shoulder 52 to the washer 5i, and thence through the spring 50 to the valve element 43 to hold the latter seated in the port 33. In the event the temperature of the outflowing oil drops below the normal operating range, the contraction of the paraflin between the discs 1| will permit the piston 75 to be retracted by the pressure of the light spring 3| acting through the washer 5! against the shoulder 52, and the valve element 43, which is retained on the stem 49 by a retainer nut 96, will recede with the valve stem to open position, permitting the flow to divide in the junction chamber B and pass partly through the core and partly through the warm up bypass I4. If the temperature drops to a sufficiently low degree, and

, the thickening of the oil in the core progresses to a suflicient extent, the flow through the core y may substantially stop and all of the flow be passed through the bypass It so as to provide maximum warming eflect. In this case, the temperature of the outflowing oil may possibly rise while the oil in the core continues to thicken, and in such an event the action of the thermostat 38, in tending to return the valve 43 to a closed position, may be oflset by yielding of the a valve element having a hub sleeve slidably spring 50 under the excess pressure diflerential' thus produced, permitting the valve element 43 to slide on the stem 49 and thereby maintain or arrive at an open position. The same result would obtain upon starting the operation of the system after a period of disuse in which the oil has thickened in the cooler so as to produce a high core resistance.

In the event the pressure differential rises to an extreme level, or in the event of sudden pressure surges in the inlet 30, the surge valve 63 may come into operation to open the port 28 and close the port 29, as described hereinbei'ore, thus permitting a direct bypass from the inlet chamber A through the bypass chamber E to the outlet chamber F.

I claim as my invention:

1. Control mechanism for a heat exchanger having a cooler core and bypass arranged in parallel relationship, comprising: a control housing providing an outlet chamber and a valve chamher having a bypass control port, and having a wall separating said outlet chamber and valve chamber; a valve unit comprising a casing defining a thermo-responsive chamber, a cylinder communicating with said chamber, a skirt portion extending through an opening in saidseparating wall and a flange cooperating with said separating wall to seal said opening; abutment means extending inwardly from the outer end of said skirt portion; thermo-expansible means in said chamber, a piston in said cylinder adapted to react to expansion and contraction of said thermoexpansible means, said piston having a stem projecting centrally through said skirt portion, a valve mounted on the outer end of said stem, a washer mounted on said stem within said skirt portion, and a retractor spring engaged between said washer and said abutment means, said valve being cooperable with said bypass control port.

2. Control mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein said valve element is slidably mounted on said stem, and including a compression spring engaged between said washer and said valve element for transmitting extending piston movement to the valve element, and abutment means on the outer end of said stem for transmitting retracting piston movement to the valve element, said valve element being adapted to yield against the resistance of said compression spring in reinder responsive to the expansion and contraction of said thermo expansible fluid, said piston having mounted on said stem, a compression spring engaged between said washer and said valve element for transmitting extending piston movement to said valve element, said compression spring being yieldable under excess pressures against said valve element to permit the latter to yield with reference to said piston, and abutment means on the outer end of said stem for transmitting retracting piston movement to said valve element.

4. A thermo-responsive valve unit comprising: a casing having a threaded opening at one end and having, inwardly of said threaded opening, a frusto-conical sealing surface, a cap member threaded into said opening and having an axially extending flange provided with an exterior frustoconical surface of similar inclination to said first mentioned frusto-conical surface, said flange having an external annular groove opening into its frusto-conical surface, an O ring of yieldable material in said groove and engaging the frustoconical surface of said casing, and means for locking said cap in a plurality of positions oi adjustment with reference to said casing, whereby to vary the pressure on a thermo-responsive fluid contained within a chamber defined between said casing and said cap.

5. A thermo-responsive valve unit comprising: a casing defining a chamber; a cylinder communicating with said chamber; a longitudinally extending skirt portion; thermo-expansible means in said chamber; a piston in said cylinder adapted to react to expansion and contraction of said thermo-expansible means; a stem for said piston, projecting centrally through the skirt portion; a valve mounted adjacent the outer end of said stem; a washer mounted on said stem within the skirt portion; abutment means extending inwardly from the outer end of said skirt; a retractor spring engaged between said washer and said abutment; and a connection between said washer and piston whereb the piston is urged inwardly of the cylinder by said retractor spring.

6. The invention defined by claim 5 wherein the valve element is slidably mounted on the stem; and there is a compression spring engaged between said washer and said valve element for transmitting extending piston movement to the valve element; and abutment means on the outer end 01' said stem for transmitting retracting piston movement to the valve element.

'7. A valve unit comprising: a casing defining a chamber and a cylinder communicating with said chamber; a-skirt portion for said casing extending axially beyond said cylinder; abutment means adjacent the outer end of said skirt; a thermo-expansible fluid filling the chamber; a piston in said cylinder responsive to the expansion and contraction of said thermo-expansible fluid; a stem on said piston projecting axially through the skirt and of smaller diameterthan said piston so as to define a shoulder; a washer abutted against said shoulder within said skirt; a retractor spring in compression between said washer and the abutment means of said skirt; a valve element having a hub sleeve slidably mounted on said stem; a compression spring en-- gaged between said washer and said valve element for transmitting extending piston movement to said valve element, said compression spring being yieldable under predetermined pressure 1 against said valve element to permit the latter to yield with reference to said piston; and abutment means on the other end of said stem for transmitting retracting piston movement to said valve element.

8. A valve unit comprising: a casing defining a chamber and a cylinder communicating with said chamber; a skirt portion for said casing extending axially beyond said cylinder; abutment means adjacent the outer end ofsaid skirt; a thermoexpansible fluid filling the chamber; a piston in said skirt and of smaller diameter than said piston so as to define a shoulder; a washer abutted against said shoulder within said skirt; a spring in compression between said washer and the abutment means of said skirt; means limiting movement of the washer in the spring urged direction; a valve element having a hub sleeve siidably mounted on said stem; a compression spring engaged between said washer and said valve element, said compression spring being yieldable under predetermined pressure against said valve element to permit the latter to yield with reference to said piston; and abutment means on the other end of said stem for transmitting retracting piston movement to said valve element.

9. A valve unit comprising: a casing defining a chamber; a cylinder communicating with said chamber; a skirt portion extending axially beyond said cylinder and having abutment means adjacent the free end thereof an outwardly extending annular flange on said skirt adapted to be slidably received in a wall opening vfor substantially closing said opening; thermo-expansible means in said chamber; a piston in said cylinder adapted to react to expansion and contraction of said thermo-expansible means, said piston having a stem projecting centrally through said skirt portion; a valve mounted on the outer end of said stem; a washer mounted on said 'stem within said skirt portion; and a retractor spring engaged between said washer and abutment means.

10. Control mechanism for a heat exchanger, comprising: a control housing providing an outlet chamber and a valve chamber having a bypass control port, and having a wall separating saidoutlet chamber and valve chamber; a valve unit comprising a casing defining a thermo-responsive chamber, a cylinder communicating with said chamber, a skirt'portion extending through an opening in said separating wall and a flange cooperating with said separating wall to seal said opening; abutment means extending inwardly from the outer end of the skirt portion; thermoexpansible means in said chamber, a piston in said cylinder adapted to react to expansion and contraction of said thermo-expansible means, said piston having a stem projecting centrally through said skirt portion, a valve mounted on the outer end of said stem, a washer mounted on said stem engaged between said washer and said valve element for transmitting extending piston movement to the valve element, and abutment means I on the outer end of said stem for transmitting retracting piston movement to the valve element.

i said valve element being adapted to yield against the resistance of said compression spring in response to excess pressures applied to said bypass control port.

RAYMOND W. JENSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

